Furniture unit constituted of sections held together by a tension cable

ABSTRACT

A piece of furniture comprising a plurality of sections which are rigidly held together by a tension cable. The furniture, which may be in the form of a table, has a cable passing through the top and side sections thereof and which is provided with a turnbuckle mechanism for compressing the top and sides of the table so that the same is held together solely by compression and without the use of adhesive, nails, screws or the like. In addition, other furniture units, such as chairs, benches, tables or case pieces may be constructed according to the principles of the present invention.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 730,984 6/1903 108/60 1,015,683 1/1912 Jensen.......................... 217/36 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Assistant ExaminerGarry Moore Attorney-Noite and Nolte ABSTRACT: A piece of furniture comprising a plurality of sections which are rigidly held together by a tension cable. The furniture, which may be in the form of a table, has a cable passing through the top and side sections thereof and which is provided with a turnbuckle mechanism for compressing the top and sides of the table so that the same is held together solely by compression and without the use of adhesive, nails, screws or the like. In addition, other furniture units, such as chairs, benches, tables or case pieces may be constructed according to the principles of the present invention.

Jon 1). Vredevoogd 314 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. l 1205 [21] Appl. No. 885,743

Dec. 17, 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 4, 1972 HELD TOGETHER BY A TENSION CABLE 13 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

Field of United States Patent [7 2] Inventor [22] Filed [54] FURNITURE UNIT CONSTITUTED OF SECTIONS [51] Int. "I

uranium 41972 31632179 SHEETIUF? FIG.

INVENTOR.

WaWM

PATENTEDJAN 2 31632 .179

SHEET 6 [1F 7.

PATENTEDJAN M972 I $532,179 sum 7 or 7 INVENTOR. .JON D VREDEW0 FURNITURE UNIT CONSTITUTEI) OF SECTIONS HELD TOGETHER BY A TENSION CABLE Practical embodiments of the invention are represented in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is an exploded perspective view of the sections of the furniture piece constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, but without the flexible cable means;

FIG. 2 is an exploded partial front elevational view of the assembled furniture piece;

FIG. 3 is an exploded partial rear elevational view of the as sembled furniture piece,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a detail of the furniture piece which shows a section of a sliding drawer;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two of the stacked drawers of the type shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6a and 6b are partial perspective views of alternate means for securing the ends of the tension cables;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of the details of construction of certain of the furniture sections shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a chair embodying the principles of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings and especially FIGS. 1-3 thereof, the furniture piece constituting the teachings of the present invention is in the form of a chest referred to generally by the numeral 10. The chest comprises a top section 12, end sections 14 and 16 respectively, and interior side sections 18 and 20 respectively. In addition, the chest is provided with a front base section 22 and a rear base section 24.

As seen in FIG. 2, a flexible tension cable 26 is used to maintain the front base section 22, end section 14, top section 12 and side section 18 under compression. Accordingly, the front base section 22 is provided with elongated holes 28 and 30 through which the ends of cable 26 are fixed. In each of the holes 28 and 30 there are positioned'sleeves 32 and 34 respectively. A bolt 36 is drawn against the collar 38a of sleeve 34 while another bolt 38 is screw-connected to a.turnbuckle 40 located within the sleeve 32. The end section 14 is provided with an open-ended groove 42 while the top section 10 has open'ended grooves 44 and 46 and interior side section is provided with another openended groove 48 in the interior side section 18. Thus, by turning the turnbuckle 40 the flexible cable 26 creates a compressive force drawing the front base section 22, end section 14, top section 12 and side section 18 tightly together under continual compression thereby forming an extremely rigid structure.

Referring now to FIG. 3 in which a rear view of the furniture piece is illustrated, the rear base section 24 shows a group of elongated holes 50, 52 and 54 respectively. The interior side section 20 is provided with an open-ended groove 56 while the top section 12 has open-end grooves 58 and 60, and the end section 16 is provided with an open-ended groove 62. Another flexible cable 64 is provided for compressing the adjacent sections of the furniture piece. In this regard, holes 50 and 52 are provided with a double sleeve 66, and hole 54 is provided with another sleeve 68. A bolt 70 is secured to one end of the cable 64 while a turnbuckle 72 is connected at the other end of the cable 64. The turnbuckle 72 is fixed to the underside of the top section 12 and is located diagonally relative the side and end sections of the chest 10. Thus, both the front and the rear sections of the chest 10 are held under continual compression by means of cables 26 and 64 respectively.

FIGS. 6a and 6b show alternate means for securing the ends of the flexible cable to the furniture case goods. In FIG. 6a the base section 22 is provided with a bore 69 and a counterbore 71. The end of the cable 26 is provided with a split stop member 73 of a frustoconical configuration. The stop member 73 is adapted to be pulled under tension into the confines of the counterbore 71, thereby securely anchoring the end of the cable in the base section. FIG. 6b discloses an end of the cable 26 secured to the top section 12 of the chest 10. In this embodiment a bore 75 and a counterbore 77 appears in said top section 12. The end of the cable 26 is secured to a pin 79 having an enlarged head 81, the latter conforming in dimensions to the dimensions of counterbore 77.

The exposed edges of the front of the chest in which the open-ended grooves are located, are concealed, as seen in FIG. 1, by means of molding strips 74, 76 and 78 respectively.

The end sections 14 and 16, as well as the interior side sections, are provided with horizontally extending grooves 80, as seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. The grooves form the sliding channels for the identical stacked drawers 82.

The drawers 82 are provided with a peripheral laterally extending lip 84, the latter being adapted to be slid in and out of the grooves 80. An integral depending front flange 86 for each drawer 82 provides the front face for the drawer. A finger grip (not shown) may be optionally installed on the front flange 86. Thus, the drawers 82 may be installed in the chest 10 in a superposed relationship as seen in FIG. 5 thereby presenting a smooth, unbroken front on the chest 10. Moreover, the drawers 82 are so constructed that they may easily nest for shipping purposes.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention in which the chest 10 is provided with a plurality of end sections 14 and 16, interior side sections 18 and 20, top section 12 and front base section 22 and rear base section 24. However, the structure herein is unlike the construction illustrated in FIG. 1 in that side and end section, as seen in FIG. 7, are provided with mating tongues and grooves 88 in adjacent interfitting sections. The interior side sections 18 and 20 of chest 10 are also adapted to be interfitting whereby additional grooves 89 are provided for sliding drawers 82. This arrangement provides flexibility for the present arrangement in that the chest 10 may be selectively expanded or contracted both vertically and horizontally. It should also be noted that the grooves 80 are formed by the particular configuration of certain of the sections whereby providing the tracks for the sliding drawers 82.

The base sections 22 and 24 are also provided with interfitting end portions 92 and 94 so that the base area too can be extended or contracted at will. Similarly, the top section 12 is constructed with interfitting portions 96 and 98 for the purposes hereinbefore described in connection with the other sections of the chest illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 discloses a chair referred to generally by the reference numeral 100 which embodies the principles of the present invention. The chair 100 comprises two slanted upstanding poles 102 and 104 and two crossed poles I05 and 108 slanted upwardly but at a considerably less angle than poles 102 and 104. A slinglike body-reposing seat 106 is connected to the poles at 102a, 104a, 106a and 108a. Tension cables 110 are so arranged that all the supporting poles for the seat 106 are held rigidly together, the cables being connected by couplings 112, thereby providing a chair which is sturdy yet can be rapidly and easily disassembled into a flat, collapsed condition.

It should be apparent that the above-described tension cables may also be located about the exterior of the chest 10 and could be crossed underneath the furniture piece and fixed thereto, thus holding the sections of the furniture piece rigidly together by compression. Accordingly, the tension wire may be located in grooves on the outside or inside of the cabinet, and also may merely embrace the various component sections of the furniture piece, with means for anchoring the ends of the wire to selected portions of the furniture piece. In any of the aforesaid construction, the tension wire maintains the component parts continually under a compressive force thereby resulting in a unitary, rigid structural furniture piece.

Referring to FIG. 5, it should be noted that the front flange 86 of the drawer 82 may take the form of a removable front section (not shown) in which an alternate panel may replace the panel on the drawer. In this manner, an entirely different visual effect may be achieved for the furniture piecev What is claimed is:

l. A compression-held table or dresser construction comprising a top section, spaced side sections, spaced front and rear base sections, all of said sections being provided with openings therein, a first flexible cable under tension passing through some of said openings in said top section, spaced side sections and said front base section, a second flexible cable under tension passing through other of said openings in said top section, spaced side sections and rear base section, and means on both of said flexible cables for individually adjusting the tension of the respective cable.

2. A compression-held table construction as claimed in claim 1 further comprising grooves in said side sections, and a drawer having laterally extending flanges in said grooves and slidably movable therein.

3. A compression-held table construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second flexible cable has one end disposed diagonally across the rear of said table and operatively connected to said top section, and said means for individually adjusting the compression of said second flexible cable is a turnbuckle.

4. A compression-held table or dresser construction as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a plurality of drawers positioned in said table in stacked relationship, each of said drawers being provided with a depending front panel extending downwardly to a location adjacent to the upper surface of the depending panel on the next lower drawer.

5. A compression-held table construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base sections have openings in the form of holes drilled therethrough, and said top section, side sections and end sections have openings in the form of openended grooves.

6. A furniture piece as claimed in claim 4 wherein said side sections have complementary tongue and groove elements for selectively interconnecting said side sections so that the vertical and/or horizontal dimensions of said dresser may be increased or decreased.

7. A compression-held table or dresser as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a drawer pull on at least one of said drawers being located adjacent to the top marginal edge of said depending front panel.

8. A furniture piece as claimed in claim 5 wherein said open-ended grooves are provided with molding pieces having rearwardly extending parts that snap into said groove.

9. A table as claimed in claim 1 wherein all of said sections are provided with means on opposite ends thereof for selectively interconnecting said sections.

10. A furniture piece as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said cable passes adjacent to the interior of at least some of said furniture sections.

11. A compression-held furniture piece comprising at least a top and two spaced side furniture sections assembled to form a furniture unit, all of the sections being provided with openings therein, a first flexible cable under tension passing through some of said openings in the front portion of said top section and the front portions of said spaced side sections, a second flexible cable under tension passing through other of said openings in the rear portion of said top section and the rear portions of said spaced side sections, and means on both of said flexible cables for individually adjusting the tension of the respective cable.

12. A furniture piece as claimed in claim 11 wherein one of said cables passes about the exterior of at least some of said furniture sections.

13. A furniture piece as claimed in claim 11 wherein at least one of said sections is provided with a bore and a counterbore and means secured to one of said cables and held under tension at least within said counterbore for maintaining said cable under continual tension and preventing release of said tension of the cable. 

1. A compression-held table or dresser construction comprising a top section, spaced side sections, spaced front and rear base sections, all of said sections being provided with openings therein, a first flexible cable under tension passing through some of said openings in said top section, spaced side sections and said front base section, a second flexible cable under tension passing through other of said openings in said top section, spaced side sections and rear base section, and means on both of said flexible cables for individually adjusting the tension of the respective cable.
 2. A compression-held table construction as claimed in claim 1 further comprising grooves in said side sections, and a drawer having laterally extending flanges in said grooves and slidably movable therein.
 3. A compression-held table construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second flexible cable has one end disposed diagonally across the rear of said table and operatively connected to said top section, and said means for individually adjusting the compression of said second flexible cable is a turnbuckle.
 4. A compression-held table or dresser construction as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a plurality of drawers positioned in said table in stacked relationship, each of said drawers being provided with a depending front panel extending downwardly to a location adjacent to the upper surface of the depending panel on the next lower drawer.
 5. A compression-held table construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base sections have openings in the form of holes drilled therethrough, and said top section, side sections and end sections have openings in the form of open-ended grooves.
 6. A furniture piece as claimed in claim 4 wherein said side sections have complementary tongue and groove elements for selectively interconnecting said side sections so that the vertical and/or horizontal dimensions of said dresser may be increased or decreased.
 7. A compression-held table or dresser as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a drawer pull on at least one of said drawers being located adjacent to the top marginal edge of said depending front panel.
 8. A furniture piece as claimed in claim 5 wherein said open-ended grooves are provided with molding pieces having rearwardly extending parts that snap into said groove.
 9. A table as claimed in claim 1 wherein all of said sections are pRovided with means on opposite ends thereof for selectively interconnecting said sections.
 10. A furniture piece as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said cable passes adjacent to the interior of at least some of said furniture sections.
 11. A compression-held furniture piece comprising at least a top and two spaced side furniture sections assembled to form a furniture unit, all of the sections being provided with openings therein, a first flexible cable under tension passing through some of said openings in the front portion of said top section and the front portions of said spaced side sections, a second flexible cable under tension passing through other of said openings in the rear portion of said top section and the rear portions of said spaced side sections, and means on both of said flexible cables for individually adjusting the tension of the respective cable.
 12. A furniture piece as claimed in claim 11 wherein one of said cables passes about the exterior of at least some of said furniture sections.
 13. A furniture piece as claimed in claim 11 wherein at least one of said sections is provided with a bore and a counterbore and means secured to one of said cables and held under tension at least within said counterbore for maintaining said cable under continual tension and preventing release of said tension on the cable. 